On September 1, the National Park Service will kick off its
Every Kid in a Park initiative, designed to encourage kids and their families
to visit one of our country’s many national parks, historical sites, or
national monuments. With Girl Scouts’ goal of getting more girls outside more
often and in more engaging ways, we are excited to partner with the National
Park Service on this important program.
Did you know there are four million fourth-graders in the
United States? Imagine if all these kids took their families to a national park
and were able to experience the many splendors it had to offer? Research shows
that regular exposure to and interaction with nature before the age of 11 has
lifelong impacts on children and creates positive feelings about nature and the
environment.
With Every Kid in a Park, fourth-grade Girl Scouts will have
access to educational programs at our national parks that are designed just for
their age group. And they can start now! Encourage your girl to visit www.nationalparks.org, click on the
Every Kid in a Park link, and complete one of the engaging educational activities
(again, designed just for fourth-graders). She’ll receive a downloadable paper
voucher giving her and her family free access to any national park, seashore, or
historic monument/site for one year.
Findings in our own More
than S’mores report (2014) show that outdoor spaces support physical play, and
that spending time in nature improves concentration and creative reasoning, and
enhances leadership in girls by cultivating curiosity and a sense of discovery
about the natural world. Spending time with family in our amazing national
parks will help foster in girls an interest in land stewardship and open them
up to the wonders of nature.
So have your girl check out www.nationalparks.org and begin her
outdoor adventure today!